WEEKLY NEWS  //  SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

As the 78th U.N. General Assembly meets this week, the world is buzzing about ways to make meaningful change. I'm an Egyptian-Italian-American feminist and social entrepreneur who is passionate about social impact, and I love listening to inspiring stories. That’s why I’m so excited to share with you a new podcast I’m hosting in partnership with the Women’s Funding Network.

Their Secret Sauce is a podcast with the mission to create a global platform for women-identified and gender non-binary leaders to share the skill or practice in their lives - the secret sauce - that fuels them as agents of social change.

In the first episode, I spoke with Blessing Omakwu, a lawyer, writer, and Head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers program, which brings together leaders from around the world to make progress toward ending poverty and fighting inequality. She said, “We all care about accolades and achievement. I am type A; I am Nigerian, daughter of immigrants. Achievement matters to me, don't get it twisted. But for me, at each point, purpose is my goal. I ask, Why am I in this place? What am I here to do? And that shifts and takes me out of competition. I'm not competing with anyone in the work I do. I'm very clear on what I'm doing and why.”

We have other great insights from an all-star lineup including Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo Movement; Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah, a Nigerian activist in the wellness space and the theorist behind Interior Race Theory; Nani Jansen Reventlow, an award-winning human rights lawyer and the founder of Systemic Justice; Adeline Azrack, the Americas Managing Director of Fondation CHANEL, and more. I’ll also be recording a special episode of bite-sized interviews with speakers and attendees at the Gates Foundation’s 2023 Goalkeepers event this week.

And if you know an incredible powerhouse woman who I should interview for a future episode, reach out at [email protected].

Please join me in celebrating the launch of Their Secret Sauce by spreading the word and listen here!

In Solidarity,

Jasmine Anouna
CEO of The Bloom, a global network of 30,000+ women in social impact

WFN News

THEIR SECRET SAUCE PODCAST

In the first episode of Their Secret Sauce, Jasmine Anouna speaks with Blessing Omakwu, a lawyer, writer, and Head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers program, which brings together leaders from around the world to make progress toward ending poverty and fighting inequality. Listen to the podcast here.

WFN Member News

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Purposeful is mobilising resources to respond to the crises in Morocco and Libya as they unfold with heavy burdens on the population, and the adversity twofold for women and girls. The Rapid Response Fund of the Global Resilience Fund moves direct resources to girls and young activists directly affected by and responding to the crises in Morocco and Libya. Purposeful is moving quickly, working alongside their advisors in the region, to ensure that they can be in solidarity with these groups who are active at the frontlines of response with the resources they need. Learn more here.

Arizona Foundation for Women has extended their deadline for the SHE Leads! Program, and will be accepting applications through October 1, 2023. This leadership development program is designed to advance more women into leadership positions. The program develops women personally, professionally and philanthropically by enhancing the skills needed to empower not only themselves, but their communities. To learn more about the program, click here.

MEMBER EVENTS

Haitian Women's Collective's fall lecture series kicks off this week address and shed light on issues related to sexual and reproductive health in Haiti. The virtual event will include insights and perspectives from Dr. Florence Jean Louis Vorbe, Executive Director of Profamil, Ninotte Lubin, Founder of Grace Community Birth Center, and Martine Jean-Baptiste, Executive Director of the Foundation for Advancement of Haitian Midwives. Interpretation services will be available during the webinar.

September 21, 2023 | 12:00pm-1:30pm EDT | Register here

The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade invites you to join an action-provoking virtual event as national and local experts delve into the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action. This comprehensive plan addresses the urgent need to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, from sexual assault to intimate partner violence and more. This event will have closed captioning available and if you need any other accommodations, please contact [email protected] by September 21.

October 5, 2023 | 9:00am-10:00am EDT | Register here

Chicago Foundation for Women's 38th Annual Gathering, NEVERTHELESS, WE WILL PERSIST, will feature keynote speaker Amanda Nguyen. CFW has ramped up their work because they believe that economic security, freedom from violence, and enhanced access to health services and information benefit all women and girls. Learn more here.

October 31, 2023 | 8:30am-11:30am CDT | Register here

Join XOESE - The Francophone Women's Fund for their 2nd International Francophone Forum, an event dedicated exclusively to strengthening the Francophone women's rights movement. This space brings together key leaders of the movement, advocates of women's rights and social justice from different social movements, as well as development practitioners, technical and financial partners and decision-makers. XOESE's 2023 International Francophone Forum will focus on the theme Building the Francophone Feminist Movement: Where do we start? and will be in a hybrid format, physically in Lomé, Togo and online. Learn more here and register online by September 30, 2023. 

November 27-30, 2023 | Register here

Opportunities & Resources

Join She Should Run for their upcoming free webinar titled Lifting as We Climb: How We Can Grow a Diverse Movement to Address Racism. Attendees will learn how to build a multi-generational movement that effectively utilizes community, media, and thoughtful conversation to affect change.

October 25, 2023 | 12:00pm-1:00pm EDT | Register here

MADRE is hiring a Major Gifts Manager. Click here for more information.

Pride Foundation is searching for a Community Advocacy, Research, and Education Senior Manager. To learn more about the position, click here.

What We're Reading & Listening To

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